SEPTA Celebrates Completion Of Crum Creek Viaduct On Media/Elwyn Line
SWARTHMORE, Pa. (CBS) -- A ribbon cutting today on a SEPTA regional-rail viaduct that became a centerpiece of sorts for the debate over Pennsylvania's transportation funding bill, known as Act 89.
The Crum Creek Viaduct on SEPTA's Media/Elwyn line dates back to 1895.
But SEPTA GM Jeffrey Knueppel says due to safety concerns,"Prior of March, 2015, we faced the prospect of having to suspend service to the four stations on the Media/Elwyn line located on the other side of the bridge."
Including Wallingford and Media.
The viaduct was rebuilt with funding from the Act 89 transportation bill, passed in 2013.
PennDOT secretary Leslie Richards was a county commissioner back then, she says when she lobbied for Act 89, and the Crum Creek Viaduct was always part of her argument.
"And what it would mean for the decrease in frequency in service for this region as well as for the cuts in service."
Work started last fall, and SEPTA was able to rebuild the 735-foot long, 100-plus foot high structure, with only an 11-week closure over the summer.